Aston Villa v Newcastle United Post-Match Thread

[PaulWinch again]

Wouldn't be surprised to see something like the following team v Norwich:

Guzan - Bacuna Okore (Clark) Vlaar Baker - Sylla, Westwood,Delph - Tonev, Benteke, Gabby

Anyway, enough villa for one weekend thanks. I just get angry when I start stewing. Everton - Chelsea and then Eliseum for me.

I'd go with that, players need to know they have to perform. Although I'd put Bennett at left back and not Baker.

[djbone]

Have immediately reached for the beer and extremely loud music to prevent that shite completely ruining my Saturday evening.

So frustrating .. As shit as we were, we still could've nicked that.  Already feeling like a continuation of the 'mediocre' phase of last season:

- we rarely seem to start games well, all the more so at home.why?
- our full-backs aren't defensively good enough, and they leave huge gaps in the wide areas
- Vlaar still doesn't appear good enough, at least not without a calmer more assured player (Okore) at his side.
- we appear to have no Plan B when the counter-attacking isn't working. I.e. a diamond midfield - could GG or Tonev work in the advanced role?

As for the players today:
Guzan - 5. bit more wobbly than usual. At fault for their second.
Lowton - 4. Too gung ho, and lots of bad decisions
Luna - 3. Just awful. Only gets 3 cos he managed to get the ball of Ben Arfa twice in the 1st half. No professional should ever do a foul throw.
Vlaar - 5. Headless chicken again at times. Rash in possession.
Okore - 6. Looked good before injury
KEA - 4. Back to last seasons model. So much possession given away, and so lightweight/half-arsed in the challenge.
Westwood - 6. Not his best, but still managed 2 or 3 defence-splitting balls the forwards wasted
Delph - 7. Just about our MOTM. all action, some great runs and good on the ball. Silly yellow card yet again though.
Weimann - 3. Crap. Needs benching and a couple of run outs in the reserves. As others have said, still looks a bit out of position but still.
Gabby - 5. The usual effort,but quality not there today. As for that bloody miss...
Benteke - 6. Great header for the goal, not his best day otherwise, albeit without much service.
Subs:
Clark - 6. Didn't do too much wrong - that miss aside.
Kozak - 5. Hard to judge on this game - didn't look tuned in yet to Benteke headers.
Tonev - given way too little time

Lambert - 5. Got them fired up for the second half, but continuing inability to dictate the game at Villa Park, and then ridiculous 4-2-4 which never looked like producing from open play.

[ajclayton]

That style of football is horrible to watch. All graft and no craft. Can't see us beating Norwich.

[Monty]

That style of football is horrible to watch. All graft and no craft. Can't see us beating Norwich.

I really hope that the Kozak signing instead of another midfielder doesn't indicate Lambert's instincts, ie knock it long first then pass later - because all-too-often with that type of football you lose it and don't get the chance to pass later.

[olaftab]

We could have conceded many more today.

But we didn't Paul and that's a positive. The other two defeats were also vey close.

Well true, but I think our level of performance was a massive concern and also the tactics in general.

Agree that performance today was poor.

[Ads]

Could have nicked it how? We created fuck all. We had two efforts on goal and one was a shite cross from Lowton.

We have created fuck all in two home games, at least we had an excuse of playing a good team in Liverpool, but today we played mid-table bilge.

[PaulWinch again]

Putting big men up front and not using the midfield will maybe work one in ten games, it's not a way to get back into the game.

[ajclayton]

The defence is worrying. Bennett was rubbish last season and Luna doesn't look to be any better. 

[achilles]

OK it's not going swimmingly as we expect however the good points are no one has ripped us apart and we are developing every match. Newcastle despite their results previous to today's game have some very good players. Just need to keep the belief and trust Lambert to get it right.

Just how long do you keep on saying this, it is now his team and it sucks!

Well I wouldn't give up yet, I still have faith in Lambert but his tactics at home need a change.

I won't mind if PL just tries something different at home and at least make us hard to beat for once! Just a very bad day at the office!

[PeterWithesShin]

We had shit loads of chances to pass the ball,  its just that today our passing was horrendous.

[David_Nab]

9 wins in 40 at home ...
Benteke has more goals than we have points
Same points tally as Crystal fucking Palace..

[olaftab]

That style of football is horrible to watch. All graft and no craft. Can't see us beating Norwich.

Is that the same Norwich we beat twice last season?

[ez]

Conceding in every game is going to make it difficult to get wins especially when its the opening goal. Sorting the defence out has got to be high priority.

[PaulWinch again]

Could have nicked it how? We created fuck all. We had two efforts on goal and one was a shite cross from Lowton.

We have created fuck all in two home games, at least we had an excuse of playing a good team in Liverpool, but today we played mid-table bilge.

Yep we deserved to get beat and we got beat, changes must happen for the next game.

[midnite]

Rubbish. Totally rubbish.

Only green shoot out of today was how good Delph is (apart from his obligatory yellow card)